The measure of the masculinity–femininity construct today: Some reflections on the case of the Bem Sex Role Inventory / La medida del constructo masculinidad–feminidad en la actualidad: algunas reflexiones sobre el caso del Bem Sex Role Inventory

Abstract

Abstract The Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) is a questionnaire widely used for the measurement of the masculinity–femininity construct as well as for other uses. The objective of this study is to analyze its suitability as a scale of measurement of the gender variable.The full, 60-item version of this instrument was administered twice to a sample of 99 college students, the first to determine the sex typing of the male and female participants and the second to determine the extent to which they consider the BSRI items as characteristic of men and women.The results obtained show that, regardless of gender and sex typing, most people considered that only some of the items of the BSRI describe men or women characteristically, while the rest could apply equally to both. These results suggest the need to seek alternative instruments to measure the gender variable more adequately and precisely.